Di^OMflSOil 


Uo.  loe. 

RECEIVING  CHRIST. 


I  CANNOT  doubt  that  you  have  at  some 
time  felt  alarmed  in  view  of  jour  sins,  and 
uttered  the  inquiry,  *' What  must  I  do  to 
be  saved?"  The  answer  is  given  in  the 
words  of  Paul  ta  the  jailor,  ** Believe  on 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be 
saved." 

Do  you  inquire  what  is  the  meaning  of 
these  words,  or  what  it  is  to  believe  in 
Jesus  Christ  ?  This  inquiry  is  indeed  one 
of  infinite  moment. '  It  is  written,  "He 
that  believeth  on  the  Son  hath  everlast- 
ing life ;  and  he  that  believeth  not  the 
Son,  shall  not  see  life;  but  the  wrath  of 
God  abideth  on  him."  To  this  inquiry  I 
reply: 


to  believe  in  Jesus  Christ  is  to  receive 
him  in  the  heart  as  a  Saviour.  It  is  writ- 
ten, "  As  many  as  received  him,  to  them- 
gave  he  power  to  become  the  sons  of  God, 
even  to  them  that  believe  on  his  name." 
John  1 :  12.  Here  we  learn  that  receiv- 
ing is  believing,  and  that  believing  is  re- 
ceiving ;  and  thus  we  are  taught  by  the 
Scriptures,  that  saving  faith  is  the  receiv- 
ing of  and  resting  on  Jesus  Christ,  as  he 
is  offered  in  the  gospel.     In  order  to  this. 

1.  The  soul  mnat  feelits  need.  ITo  one 
will  accept  of  Christ,  until  he  realizes 
that  Christ  alone  can  remove  the  burden 
of  sin.  No  soul  ever  believea  in  Christ, 
until  it  found  itself  to  be  lost  and  con- 
demned. 

^2.  The  soul  must  not  only  feel  its  need, 
but  it  must  see  in  Christ  one  who  is  able 
and  willing  to  save  even  to  the  uttermost. 
The  devil  often  blinds  anxious  eouls,  so 
that  while  burdened  with  sin,  they  can- 
not see  the  way  to  Jesus.  They  know  he 
is  able  and  willing  to  save  others ;  but 
when  the  thought  of  their  own  acceptance 
occurs  to  them,  it  seems  dark  and  doubt- 
ful.    Their  sins  appear  too  threat  for  even 


thegraceof  Christ ;  they  think  they  have 
sinned  so  boldly  and  against  so  much 
light,  that  their  day  of  grace  is  past.  But 
Christ  is  willing  to  save  you.  Hear  him : 
"  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labor  and 
heavy-laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest." 
In  that  word  all,  is  there  not  room  for 
you  ?  Hear  him  again  :  "  Him  that  Com- 
eth unto  me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out.'* 
In  that  word  in  no  wise,  is  not  your  case 
included  ?  Think  much  on  the  fulness 
of  Christ,  and  you  will  see  that  it  is  infi- 
nite. Doubt  not,  lest  you  add  sin  to  sin  : 
only  believe.  He  is  as  willing  as  he  is  able. 
Your  doubts  may  appear  to  you  to  savor 
of  humility  ;  but  tliey  are  the  highest  dis- 
honor to  the  name  of  Him,  of  whom  it 
was  said,  ^'  Ihis  man  receiveth  sinners.*^ 
Yes,  Christ  can  save  you  now,  even  at  this 
late  hour,  if  you  will  receive  him. 

3.  To  believe  in  Jesus,  is  to  receive 
him  as  a  complete  Saviour,  and  to  renounce 
all  other  hopes  of  salvation.  To  receive 
Jesus  as  a  Saviour,  is  to  cast  yourself  on 
on  him  wilhout  reserve,  accepting  him  as 
your  only  hope.  Your  own  righteousness 
may  have  often  pleased  you,  but  now  you 


see  it  to  be  ^'filthy  rags;"  your  goop 
works  afford  no  hope  of  removing  sin. 
You  see  that  even  the  deepest  repentance 
could  not  save  you,  unless,  it  lead  yon  to 
accept  Him. 

"  This  for  sin  could  not  atone  ; 
Thou  must  save,  and  thou  alone.'^ 

The  believing  soul  will  exclaim  with  the 
dying  Lambert,  "  ^one  but  Christ ;  nouQ 
but  Christ."  In  receiving  Christ  by  faith 
the  soul  has  a  view  of  his  excellence,  and 
desires  him  above  all  things  ;  so  that  it  is 
written,  "  To  you  which,  believe,  he  is 
precious.''  The"believer  finds  all  fulness 
in  Christ.  Such'  is  the  completeness  of 
his  work,  as  our  "  wisdom,  righteousness, 
sanctification,  and  redemption,"  that  no- 
thing can  be  added.  A  believing  soul 
desires  Christ  above  all  things.  So  Paul 
prays  for  his  people  ''  that  Christ  may 
dioell  in  tJieir  hearts  by  faitliJ-  Believing 
in  Christ,  will  cut  the  cords  of  sin.  As 
sin  must  be  repented  of,  and  abandoned 
and  hated,  so  faith  exclaims,  "I  must 
nave  Canst,  evciji  ..  ^  ...^:t  c.b?.r! don  what 


once  I  loved."  Right  eyes  can  be  pluck- 
ed out,  and  right  bands  cut  oft,  rather 
than  lose  a  Saviour.  The  language  of 
such  a  soul  is,  "I  must  have  Christ,  be 
the  terms  never  so  hard.  Be  my  sins 
never  so  many,  I  will  yet  go  to  Him,  and 
venture  my  soul  upon  Him.  H  I  perish, 
I  will  perish  at -his  feet."  That  soul  truly 
receives  him,  and  is  saved.  Thus  to  be- 
lieve in  Christ,  is  to  receive  him  in  our 
hearts  as  he  is  ottered  in  the  gospel,  and 
to  place  our  whole  trust  in  him  as  an  all- 
sufficient  Saviour. 

If  the  reciving  of  Jesus  Christ  be  be- 
lieving on  him,  then  those  who  have  the 
least  degree  of  saving  faith,  have  cause  t^ 
admire  the  rich  grace  bestowed  upon 
them  ;  for  the  smallest  measure  of  saving 
faith  receives  a  full  and  complete  Christ. 
O  believer,  though  the  arms  of  thy  faith 
be  weak,  yet  they  embrace  a  great  Christ; 
no  sooner  hast  thou  received  him,  but  he 
is  formed  within  thee  the  hope  of  glory, 
and  thou  hast  the  broad  seal  of  heaven  to 
confirm  thy  title  to  eternal  life. 

As  you  hope  to  meet  God  in  peace,  re- 
ceive his  offered  Son,  tor  ^'  there  is  none 


other  name  given  among  men,  whereby 
we  must  be  saved."  Consider  a  moment 
what  is  in  Christ : 

1.  The  righteousness  of  God  is  in  him, 
by  which  God  can  be  just  and  justify  the 
sinner  that  believeth.  By  this  righteous- 
ness only  can  the  sinner  be  justified.  He 
is  '*the  lord  our  righteousness,"  and  we 
are  made  the  "  righteousness  of  God  in 
him." 

2.  The  love  of  God  is  in  Christ;  the 
mercies  and  compassions  of  God  are  in 
Christ.  Merc}^  and  compassion  are  what 
poor  sinners  want.  If  you  receive  Christ, 
you  receive  mercy ;  but  out  of  him  "  our 
God  is  a  consuming  fire." 

3.  The  salvation  of  God  is  in  Christ; 
wherefore,  if  you  believe  not,  you  exclude 
yourselves  from  all  hope  of  salvation. 

Consider  also  how  Christ  is  offered — 
freely^  as  the  gift  of  God ;  you  are  not  to 
purchase  him,  but  to  receive  him.  ^'Ho, 
every  one  that  thirsteth,  come  J e  to  the 
waters,  and  he  that  hath  no  money;  come 
ye,  buy  and  eat  without  money  and  with- 
out price."  Isa.  Iv:  1.  You  are  eatreat- 
©d  to  receive  him.     **  As  though  God  did 


beseech  you  by  us,  we  pray  you  in  Christ's 
stead,  be  ye  reconciled  to  God."  2  Cor. 
v:  20.  Oh,  what  amazing  condescension 
is  here  shown  us  !  God  now  beseeches 
thee  to  believe.  What  say  est  thou?  canst 
thou  cry  out,  "Lord,  I  believe  ;  help  thou 
mine  unbelief?" 

Consider  also  the  sin  and  danger  there 
is  in  neglecting  the  present  offer  of  Christ ; 
here  is  the  very  malignity  ot  sin  in  refusi 
ing  to  believe.  Hereby  a  man  murders 
his  own  soul.  "  I  said  therefore  unto  you, 
that  ye  shall  die  in  your  sins;  for  if  ye  be- 
lieve not  that  I  am  he,  ye  shall  die  in  your 
sins."  John  viii :  24.  Unbelief  is  self- 
murder;  you  are  guilty  of  the  death  of 
your  own  soul :  life  and  salvation  w^re 
offered,  and  you  rejected  them.  The  re- 
fusing of  Christ  by  unbelief,  will  "aggra- 
vate your  condemnation  above  that  of 
others  who  perish  in  ignorance  of  him. — 
Oh,  it  will  be  more  tolerable  for  the  hea- 
then than  for  you,  who  have  rejected  a 
Saviour  whom  they  never  knew. 

In  receivicg  Christ,  beware  of  danger- 
ous delays,  "Take  heed  to  the  things 
which  ye  have  heard,  lest  any  time  ye  let 


them  slip."  You  have  read  of  pome  that 
were  almost  persuaded,  and  of  Some  that 
were  "  not  far  from  the  kingdom  of  God," 
yet  they  perhaps  perished,  after  alL  See 
that  you  receive  him  v^Wh  all  your  heart. 
"  Lay  hold  on  eternal  life,"  wMeh  is  giv- 
en to  all  that  believe.  Thus  "  make  your 
calling  and  election  sure." 

*'  That  blest  moment  T  received  him 
Filled  my  soul  with  joy  and  peace  ^ 
Love  I  much,  I've  much  lorgiven, 
Tm  a  miracle  of  grace." 


'I'O^- 


Hollinger  Corp. 
pH  8.5 


